Obituary: LYE, WILLIAM

CEDAR HILLS, UTAH: William F. Lye passed away at his home in Cedar Hills, Utah, on December 14, 2010 at the age of 80. He was born February 19, 1930, in Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada, to Arthur Percy Lye and Jessie Loretta Prince. He met Velda Campbell, of Ammon, Idaho, when they were serving missions in the Western Canadian Mission. They met again while he was attending Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, and married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple October 16, 1953. They had six children: William Mark Lye, Matthew Campbell Lye, Joseph Joel Lye (deceased), David Arthur Lye, Victoria Moore and Regina Lye. William was deeply involved in higher education throughout his life. He attended two years at Ricks College, then received a BS from Utah State in 1959. He was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and attended U C Berkeley, receiving his MA in History in 1959. He taught at Ricks College in Idaho for four years, then returned to school. William attended Duke University for one semester, then moved to a doctoral program at UCLA. After he was granted a Foreign Area Fellowship from the Ford Foundation, he went to Africa to do research, and completed a PhD in History at UCLA in 1969. William taught at Ricks one more year, then began his career at Utah State in 1968. He taught History for one year; then served as head of the History Department for the next seven years; then as Dean of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences for seven years and as Vice President for University Relations for eight years. While serving as Vice President he helped raise the money for the Fine Arts building, the Education Building, and the Haight Alumni Center. He then returned to teaching for three years before retiring. William was an active member of the LDS church, serving as a missionary in the Western Canadian Mission; as Branch President of the Logan Hospital Branch; Bishop of the Adams Park Ward; and on the Logan Central Stake High Council, assigned to the Deaf Branch. His volunteer work included 10 years as chairman of the Cache Valley Habitat for Humanity, and during this time they were able to build six homes for families. He is survived by his wife, Velda Campbell Lye, and children: William Mark Lye (Michelle) of Alpine, Utah; Matthew Campbell Lye, Rock Springs, Wyoming; David Arthur Lye (Gina), American Fork, Utah; Victoria Moore, Shalimar, Florida; and Regina Lye, Bella Vista, Arkansas. His grandchildren: William Cameron Lye, Alpine, Utah; Collin Shelby Lye (Lani), Orem, Utah; Nicole Marie Lye, Alpine, Utah; Joseph Tyrell Lye (Carissa), Rock Springs, Wyoming; Stephen Daniel Lye, Rock Springs, Wyoming; Misty Dawn Lye, Rock Springs, Wyoming; Karl David Lye (Courtney), West Jordan, Utah; Brent Alden Lye, American Fork, Utah; Nathan James Lye, American Fork, Utah; and Natasha Lye, American Fork, Utah. Also one great-grandchild: Jude Lye, Orem, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, three brothers and a son, Joseph Joel Lye. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 18th, at 1:30 p.m., at the Allen Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan, UT. Family and friends may attend a viewing on Friday, December 17th, from 6-8 p.m. or on Saturday, December 18th, 2010, from 12:30 - 1:15 p.m. Condolence and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net